Introduced Version
SENATE BILL No. 287
_____
DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 20-30-6.1-4.
Synopsis: Internet safety curricula for schools. Provides that a school
corporation may include instruction regarding Internet safety in the
school corporation's curriculum. Requires the department of education
to develop, not later than July 1, 2025, age appropriate curricula in
Internet safety for use at multiple grade levels, and specifies topics that
must be included in the curricula.
Effective: July 1, 2024.
Tomes
January 16, 2024, read first time and referred to Committee on Education and Career
Development.
2024 IN 287—LS 6476/DI 152 Introduced
Second Regular Session of the 123rd General Assembly (2024)
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
between statutes enacted by the 2023 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
SENATE BILL No. 287
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
education.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1 SECTION 1. IC 20-30-6.1-4 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
2 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
3 1, 2024]: Sec. 4. (a) Each school corporation may include
4 instruction regarding Internet safety in the school corporation's
5 curriculum.
6 (b) Not later than July 1, 2025, the department shall develop
7 curricula for use by school corporations under subsection (a). The
8 department shall determine the number of separate curricula
9 necessary to provide age appropriate instruction regarding
10 Internet safety to students at a range of ages, but shall at a
11 minimum develop separate curricula for elementary school
12 students and for high school students.
13 (c) Each curriculum developed under subsection (b) must
14 include age appropriate instruction regarding the following:
15 (1) Thinking critically about the possible provenance,
16 reliability, and intended effect of online information before
17 acting on the information.
2024 IN 287—LS 6476/DI 152 2
1 (2) Acting ethically in the student's interactions with others
2 online, and reacting appropriately to unethical behavior such
3 as:
4 (A) cyberbullying (as described in IC 20-19-3-11.5); and
5 (B) promotion of dangerous behavior, including self-harm;
6 that is directed at the student by others online.
7 (3) Considering the uncertainties inherent in interacting with
8 others online, particularly with regard to the ability of an
9 individual to misrepresent the individual's identity online.
10 (4) Recognizing the economics of providing Internet content
11 and social media services, including:
12 (A) the economic relationship between:
13 (i) users; and
14 (ii) providers;
15 of Internet content and social media services;
16 (B) the economic incentives of a provider to influence the
17 behavior of a user when the user is interacting with the
18 provider's content or services; and
19 (C) methods used by providers to influence user behavior.
20 (5) Practicing cybersecurity, including recognizing:
21 (A) the danger of:
22 (i) identity theft; and
23 (ii) financial fraud;
24 when interacting with others online, accessing Internet
25 content, or using social media services; and
26 (B) the potential for information shared online to remain
27 accessible to others in perpetuity.
2024 IN 287—LS 6476/DI 152